Most who are interested in African history have probably heard about these Manuscripts for years and have hoped they would see the light of day and at least be translated. It seems that will never be the case now and they will be just another page of African history lost forever. A man in an interview said he has frequently heard the west refer to them as Jihadis and Islamist but he calls them Bandits. They are most certainly Bandits. Bandits & Foreigners with powerful weapons.

French troops are inside the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali after advancing north into an area held by Islamist militants.As they fled, the insurgents apparently set fire to a library that is home to thousands of ancient manuscripts, an act described by the city's mayor as a "devastating blow" to world heritage.Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford was the first journalist to enter Timbuktu as the French were heading into the city.Empty boxes which once contained valuable manuscriptsShe said: "In the centre of the town they are celebrating, they're going absolutely bonkers with flags, cheering and waving and saying thank you to the French."But amid the apparent relief among local people, she reported the anger of those who said they were helpless to stop the Islamists burning ancient documents at the city's main library, the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies and Research.Inside the building, which had reportedly been used as a sleeping quarters by the Islamists, Crawford said the empty boxes strewn around her had contained thousands of historic manuscripts.The tombs of three Sufi saints have been destroyed"Some of the documents date back to the 13th century," she said. "This was all the documentation they'd built up over centuries of life in Timbuktu - all either burned by the Jihadists or they have disappeared."The city's mayor, Ousmane Halle, said: "They torched all the important ancient manuscripts. The ancient books of geography and science. It is the history of Timbuktu, of its people. It's truly alarming that this has happened."During their rule, the militants systematically destroyed UNESCO World Heritage sites in Timbuktu, long a hub of Islamic learning.Crawford, who is embedded with the French forces, visited the tombs of three local Sufi saints, which were centuries old. Her report showed they had been reduced to piles of rubble.French troops received an enthusiastic show of support from localsUNESCO says that one of those destroyed was the tomb of Sidi Mahmoudou, a saint who died in 955.A spokesman for the al Qaeda-linked militants has said the tombs were destroyed because they contravened Islam, encouraging Muslims to venerate saints instead of God.Ground forces backed by French paratroopers and helicopters had taken control of Timbuktu's airport and the roads leading to the town in an overnight operation.Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford is embedded with French troopsIt is part of the French-led mission to oust the radical Islamists from the northern half of Mali, which they seized more than nine months ago in the wake of a military coup in the distant capital of Bamako.The French and Malian forces so far have met little resistance.Timbuktu lies on an ancient caravan route and has entranced travellers for centuries. It is situated some 1,000km (620 miles) northeast of Bamako.http://news.sky.com/story/1044015/mali-french-troops-advance-in-timbuktu

I remember Omowalejabali mentioning this when Gaddafi was toppled. A direct knock on effect and weapons falling into the hands of criminals - seems all so accidental but all so planned. Yet they welcome the powers as heroes...

''Most are in Arabic, but there are many in other languages, including Songhai, Tamashek, Bambara, Turkish and Hebrew. The oldest dates from the year 1204. A Wikipedia entry on the Timbuktu manuscripts contains several beautiful images of the documents.''

I remember Omowalejabali mentioning this when Gaddafi was toppled. A direct knock on effect and weapons falling into the hands of criminals - seems all so accidental but all so planned. Yet they welcome the powers as heroes...

''Most are in Arabic, but there are many in other languages, including Songhai, Tamashek, Bambara, Turkish and Hebrew. The oldest dates from the year 1204. A Wikipedia entry on the Timbuktu manuscripts contains several beautiful images of the documents.''

We have become a people who are selfish and don't really care for and treasure out history, so I'm not surprised. I saw this coming.

Building A Global e-Networking Community Focusing on Black Genealogy/Family History and the Cultural/Spiritual Traditions of African people worldwide. EWOSA Village @facebook.com. Follow my blog at http://blkrootsworker.blogspot.com/?m=1

We have become a people who are selfish and don't really care for and treasure out history, so I'm not surprised. I saw this coming.

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For the last few years I have heard so much awareness being raised about the existence of these Manuscripts, the fact they have been preserved so long and the need for them to be translated only for them to be burned & looted. The people of Timbuktu were defenseless and they couldn't have stopped this even if they wanted to. Maybe if the Government had put funding into preserving them and getting them translated it could have been prevented. I agree there is evidence but for the most part, Ancient Black civilizations are still very much shrouded in mystery. We know so much more about Ancient Egypt in comparison to any where else. There is a general lack of writings, either withheld or destroyed, even in Ancient Kush which existed for thousands of years - so little is known.

For the last few years I have heard so much awareness being raised about the existence of these Manuscripts, the fact they have been preserved so long and the need for them to be translated only for them to be burned & looted. The people of Timbuktu were defenseless and they couldn't have stopped this even if they wanted to. Maybe if the Government had put funding into preserving them and getting them translated it could have been prevented. I agree there is evidence but for the most part, Ancient Black civilizations are still very much shrouded in mystery. We know so much more about Ancient Egypt in comparison to any where else. There is a general lack of writings, either withheld or destroyed, even in Ancient Kush which existed for thousands of years - so little is known.

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How much of ancient Egypt was actually known before the British and French tomb raiding during the 1800s?

Much of what existed from ancient Kush, or Kerma, was destroyed as it was conquered by Egypt around 1500 BC.

Africans did not rely for the most part on written history, but that does not mean that their history and culture remain shrouded in mystery.

We just have been separated from our roots and look back as if they are a mystery because we lack knowledge of their sacred societies.

As far as the records of Timbuctu are concerned, Black people who may now express some outrage were mute when the Blacks in Libya were bombarded, now this is part of the aftermath. The US and French will continue to fight this phony war on terror but allow these Saudi-based Salafists to spread throughout the Sahel to wipe out any trace of African blood and civilization throughout the region, and even worse too many of us concede this territory to the 'Arabs' who have no legitimate claim to land in Africa.

Building A Global e-Networking Community Focusing on Black Genealogy/Family History and the Cultural/Spiritual Traditions of African people worldwide. EWOSA Village @facebook.com. Follow my blog at http://blkrootsworker.blogspot.com/?m=1

Black people who may now express some outrage were mute when the Blacks in Libya were bombarded, now this is part of the aftermath. The US and French will continue to fight this phony war on terror but allow these Saudi-based Salafists to spread throughout the Sahel to wipe out any trace of African blood and civilization throughout the region, and even worse too many of us concede this territory to the 'Arabs' who have no legitimate claim to land in Africa.

Happy Birthday Sister CocoButterSkyn! Thank you for the love, all the years! Please tell Sister Epiphany I said hello and that I miss and think of her often! I hope you both are doing well! Much Much Love and Peace!